Opening of New Long-term Care Facility Celebrated

Fifty seniors and residents celebrated the official opening of their new long-term care facility in Cole Harbour, today, July 14.

Bissett Court is designed for residents to feel more at-home, with private rooms and bathrooms, cozy living spaces, and access to an outdoor garden. It will provide 50 long-term care beds in the Halifax-Dartmouth area.

"This wonderful facility is an invaluable addition, not only to Cole Harbour and HRM, but to the province of Nova Scotia," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "Government is committed to making life better for today's families and that includes helping more seniors live well in a place they call home."

Owned and operated by Shannex, Bissett Court was built using the province's new design standards which emphasize smaller, one-storey buildings with more home-like surroundings. The design also enables couples who both require nursing home care to live together in the same household.

Bissett Court features four interior households each with a kitchen, living room and dining room. Clients have private rooms, each with their own wheelchair accessible washroom. An outdoor garden can be accessed from the living room of each household.

Clients have access to 24-hour nursing care, medical services, nutrition services, pharmacy services, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.

"With the opening of Bissett Court, many individuals who have been waiting in the community and other facilities are now able to receive the support they need in their home community and to be close their family and friends", said Jason Shannon, chief operating officer of Shannex.

The facility employs 70 people, many of whom reside in the Cole Harbour area.

Bissett Court is part of the province's Continuing Care Strategy which will create 1,600 new beds by 2015-16. Access to Bissett Court, as with other provincial long-term care facilities, is through the Department of Health's Single Entry Access system at 1-800-225-7225.